The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan has issued clarifications on the assignment of a child's surname, given name, and patronymic by parents. The move follows complaints from Kazakh citizens on social media about issues with the online registration of birth certificates, reports infohub.kz.
As noted by the ministry, according to Article 15 of the Civil Code of Kazakhstan, a citizen acquires and exercises rights and obligations under their own name, which includes a surname and given name, and optionally a patronymic. Furthermore, Article 194 of the Code "On Marriage (Matrimony) and Family" stipulates that during state registration of birth, the child's surname is determined by the parents' surnames. If the parents have different surnames, the child is assigned the surname of the father or mother by mutual agreement of the parents.
It is emphasized that, at the request of citizens, affixes not typical of the Kazakh language are excluded from the surnames and patronymics of persons of Kazakh nationality: -ov, -ev, -ova, -eva, -in, -n, -iny, -na, -ovna, -evna, -ovich, -evich. Instead, the endings -uly and -kyzy are used in patronymics, written as a single word. It is also allowed to write the name of a person of Kazakh nationality in a manner where the father's name replaces the surname, which must come first, followed by the given name, and the patronymic is recorded at will. In cases where the father's name replaces the surname with the addition of the endings -uly or -kyzy, the patronymic is not recorded.
Examples of writing full names are provided: Akhmetov Serik Aibekovich can be written as Aibekuly Serik (patronymic replaces surname), Akhmet Serik Aibekuly, or Aibek Serik Aibekuly, or Aibek Serik (patronymic is optional).
"Given the above, the legislation does not prohibit parents from using a mixed spelling of the child's full name, but it is advisable to consider the grammar of the Kazakh language when writing full names," the ministry explained.
The Ministry also added that in practice, citizens actively use mobile applications of second-tier banks to obtain public services. Nevertheless, the registering body in the field of state registration of civil status acts is the NJSC "State Corporation 'Government for Citizens'." Currently, citizens have the right to submit an application for state registration of a child's birth via the "digital government" web portal, as well as by contacting a Public Service Center (TsON) or directly the registering body in the field of state registration of civil status acts.